Resources to create a “Green, Sustainable, Eco-Friendly” Website

Green, Sustainable, Eco-Friendly
That’s a movement we’re all starting to hear about more and more. Corporations, Individuals, and customers are starting to pay attention to the demand that thinking long term is important to the world, and to business.

At some point, if you work at a technology company, or any other industry, some individual or group within your organization is going to push the green movement, a mandate will come from upper management and every group will have to figure out a way to be ‘green’.

I think I’m ahead of the trend here, and want to provide the definitive resource for the Web Strategist (those that are responsible for the long term direction of a website) with some resources on creating a green website.
Be prepared for the “Green Web Police”
Remember how “Web Accessibility” became important? I’m sure at one point, some green group will create a “green certificate” showing that your website is eco-friendly, and you’ll place that badge on your website for a few thousand dollars. Some users will boycott websites that are not green compliant.

I’m inspired by my colleague Ryan (Great videos if you’re interested in sustainability) who focuses on green, I’m a web guy through and through, so here’s some resources.

Web Hosting:There are web hosts that are powered by solar panel, wind, or some type of combination of traditional and natural power. I’m not going to list out every web host who is green (there will be thousands soon) but I’ll point to definitive indexes that list them out.

Computer and Server Recycling:
Computers only have a limited shelf life, so what happens to those out of date pieces of hardware after your sys admin throws them in the dumpster? I recently recycled some old PCs and learned that computers will head to 3rd world countries and really damage the environment and people.

Other ways to have a Green and Sustainable Website
You know that one web developer you worked with, and you wondered if he ever took a shower? Well he was just being eco-friendly. Well aside from making your developers work in the dark and forcing your UI designers to sell their cars, there are others ways to green your work